oh dear...clutch gone

[Alfastarter]

hey guys,

Yes i had that unfortunate experience of pressing the pedal down and it not woking any more!

I am trying a new specialist ALFA AID on the A4 in Maidenhead (heard a few gd things about them), I have been quoted around 600 quid to replace, does that sound reasonable for a new clutch??

Cheers

[EauRouge]

price is nuts!

[SimonT]

Don't worry - That sounds like classic slave cylinder failure, ie part of the actuating system as opposed to the actual clutch plates, etc. The cylinder is not expensive and easily accessible so shouldn't be a big job at all (fingers crossed that my diagnosis is correct!) - in fact, really cheap and easy!

[Happy Man]

I'm with SimonT sounds like a busted slave cylinder and it's a standard Fiat part about £40 iirc

Same thing happened to my twinny a few years ago

[SimonT]

I think they are even cheaper than that. Mine was a bugger cos it was jammed in the mounting but TS ones are held by a couple of bolts that should easily undo so shouldn't be an issue.

[Starkers]

Yep, check that the slave cylinder hasn't gone first.

Telltale signs are:

1. That there will be (brake and clutch) fluid over the top of the gearbox - look below the thermostat on the right hand side of the engine.
2. That the brake fluid resevoir will have gone down a bit.

[SimonT]

... & that the pedal seems no longer attached to the clutch!

[Alfastarter]

hmm yeah i thought that sounded high, surprised they would 'take me for a ride' though!? The gtv's already with them () so I hope they are honest if it is just a slave cylinder. Time will tell I guess, wish I had spwent a little more time having a look now!

[SimonT]

I'd be on the phone asap making sure that they are not just blindly changing the clutch because you asked them to.

[rxe]

hmm yeah i thought that sounded high, surprised they would 'take me for a ride' though!?

Their parts prices are ugly (close to main dealer), but all of the work we have had done there is good. Maidenhead is expensive - you could always go to SGT down the road in Taplow, but I'd advise getting a mortgage first.

Sounds very much like the slave. Clutch failure is either:

- Release bearing whining, then seizes and destroys the clutch, big load of mechanical noise
- Gradual wear out, higher and higher pedal position,, eventually slips

Clutch suddenly not working, foot goes to the floor is generally hydraulic.

[Ruiner]

Another tell-tale when my slave cylinder went was that I had a flickering brake fluid / handbrake light for a while (especially around corners) and then clutch pedal dropped to the floor, but could be lifted with me foot - topped the fluid up in the interim before Simply Alfa's replaced it for me for £85.

[Dansolo]

Yea mine went a few years ago also , had probs a few weeks leading up to it , thankfully it failed while parked up at my brothers , nice AA man did a temp fix until a local garage did it for around £80.

[Alfastarter]

in terms of what happened there was very little tell tale signs leading up to it (but when I think about it I didnotice a slight scratching/flicking noise when depressed) and then literally the clutch stopped working, pedal was fine same pressure no noticeable difference but it just wasnt doing anything i.e. I couldnt engage a gear with it depressed (Luckily it was late at night and i managed to limp home changing gear using the revs!) AA man also said he thought it was the clutch itself needing replacing (as did alfaaid) but looks like this is going to be (an expensive) lesson learned taking it to them.............should have checked alfaowner.com FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SimonT]

Those are odd symptoms, especially if you still feel resistance in the pedal ...

[rxe]

(but when I think about it I didnotice a slight scratching/flicking noise when depressed)

New noise when clutch in is the release bearing. Putting the clutch in should make everything quieter as the gearbox stops spinning. If the release bearing has gone, then yes, your clutch is toastado.

[jamesy]

Replaced the clutch on the Spider in May prior to taking it to France,I got a complete new Valeo clutch kit from mister-auto.co.uk supplied and delivered for £108.37 luckily the little gagage Ive used for over 20 years did me a cash deal to fit for £200 a huge saving even on my local independant who are brilliant (Mc lennans) they had just done the cambelts/variator waterpump etc at a very good price but needless to say could not match the price,I have covered 3000 miles since and what a difference as mine was very heavy prior to the change,my advice shop around for the parts first and then see what a good local mechanic is willing to do it for.

[jamesy]

Just checked the site the clutch has gone up to £170 but there is a 30% discount code which means at £119 plus £6 postage still the best deal around.